Tray ob baseboard for use with



Aug. 29, 1939. H. T. BIGG El AL 2,171,433

TRAY 0R BASEBOARD FOR USE WITH LOOSE LEAF BOOKS Original Filed March 29, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOHB HENRY '12. B166 SAMUEL H. SUNDERLAND BY v ailmw ATTORNEYS Aug.29, 1939. I H T B.GG E A 2,171,488

TRAY OR BASEBOARD FOR USE WITH LOOSE LEAF BOOKS Original Filed March 29, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS HENRY '1. BIGG SAMUEL H. SUNDERLAND BY /Jafimnw ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 29, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRAY R1 BASEBOARD FOR USE WITH LOOSE LEAF BOOKS Original application March 29, 1937, Serial No. 133,696. Divided and this application August 30, 1938, Serial No. 227,554. In Great Britain May 11, 1936 Claims.

This invention relates to trays or base boards for use with loose leaf books of the kind in which the leaves are held in the book between clamping bars drawn together by springs which may be concealed in leaf aligning or holding posts extending between the clamping bars, some of these posts being movable along the clamping bars in the longitudinal direction so as to be capable of engaging in or of being disengaged from curved or angular slots or from notches in the edges of the leaves. This application is a division of application Serial No. 133,696, filed March 29, 1937. 1 In order to facilitate the drawing apart of the clamping bars against the efforts of the springs, so as to allow leaves to be withdrawn from or inserted between the said clamping bars, a tray or base board has been proposed comprising sliding platforms on which the clamping bars can be supported, the said platforms being movable, carrying with them the clamping bars, for example, by rack and pinion mechanism, a lever, or the like, so that the clamping bar springs can be extended by the application of a relatively small force.

" According to this invention, the tray or base board is provided with cam bars which as the platforms are moved apart carrying with them the clamping bars, enter slots in the latter to engage movable members in the clamping bars,

) such as sliding or pivoted carrier blocks, having the leaf holding posts mounted thereon. The

said posts which may be arranged in pairs slid-v able one within the other, can thus also be moved longitudinally along the clamping bars to release the leaves. Latches are provided to lock these carrier blocks against movement when they occupy positions in which the posts mounted thereon are in their sheet aligning positions, and these 0. latches are arranged so that at the commencement of the moving apart of the platforms the latches are moved to release the carrier blocks and allow the latter to move.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a plan View of clamping bars carrying leaf aligning and holding posts and Figure 2 is a side view thereof with the cover plate of the clamping bar removed to show movable members carrying the said posts, and latches 50 for holding these members in predetermined positions.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the clamping bars and the leaf holding posts in their leaf releasing positions, and

Figure 4 is a side view thereof,

Figure 5 is a detail view illustrating an alternative form of latch,

Figure 6 is a plan view of a loose leaf book and a tray in accordance with this invention provided with movable platforms and ramps to cooperate with the clamping bars and members carrying the leaf holding posts above mentioned.

Figure 7 shows a central vertical section of the said tray.

Figure 8 is a partial side view of the same.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate modifications hereinafter referred to.

Figures 1 to 4 show a loose leaf book of a type in connection with which the improved tray can be usefully employed. As shown, the clamping bars I carry leaf aligning posts 2 and leaf holding posts 3. These posts are arranged in pairs slidable one within another to avoid a gap being left between the ends of the posts when the clamping bars are moved apart, one member of each pair being carried by one of the clamping bars and the other member of the pair by the other clamping bar. The clamping bars are drawn together in the known manner by springs la (Figure 2) concealed within the said posts. The leaf aligning posts 2 are secured directly to the clamping bars I and the leaf holding posts 3 may if desired be carried on sliding blocks but in the drawings they are shown carried on movable carrier blocks or levers 4 pivotally mounted at 5 within the clamping bars which are provided with cover plates 6' on which barrel portions 1 are formed to receive hinge pins for the attachment of guard sheets or cover boards Go for enclosing the leaves held in the clamping bars, as shown in Figures 7 and 8. The cover plates 6 are secured to the clamping bars I by screws or rivets inserted in the holes 8 and the leaf holding posts project from the levers 4 through slots 9 in the clamping bars I, the arrangement illustrated being suitable for holding leaves having notches in opposite edges of the said leaves.

The posts 3 which are movable between the positions in which they are shown in full lines in Figure 3, the clamping bars then being drawn apart to allow leaves to be inserted or withdrawn, and the positions indicated in broken lines, can be arranged in other positions, for example, so that they can be moved to engage or disengage angular slots provided in the back edge only of each leaf. The said posts 3 are drawn to their leaf holding positions by springs ID, as shown in Figures 2 and 4.

Each lever 4 carries a stud ll extending into a slot I2 in a spring latch or locking lever 13 sides of the claming bars.

mounted on a pivot I4 and acted upon by a spring I5. When the locking lever is in the position shown in Figure 2 the lever 4 and its post 3 are held against movement. Part of the lever 4 overlaps part of the locking lever I3 and an aperture I6 is formed in the wall of the clamping bar opposite to these overlapping parts through which 7.

an implement can be inserted to act first on the lever I3 to move it from its locking position and.

then to act on both levers I3 and 4 so as to move the latter to its leaf releasing position as shown in Figure 4.

In the modified construction shown in Figure 5, the post 3 is carried on a lever 4a carried on the pivot pin 5 and acted upon by the spring Ill. The lever do has a lug I Iv on onearm thereof which can be engaged by a hook I8on a locking lever [3a mounted on the pivot pin I l and acted upon by the spring I5. Overlapping parts of the levers 4a and I3a are opposite to the aperture I6 so that by the insertion of an implement through this aperture the lever I 3a can be moved to unlatch the lever 4a and thereafter to move the lever id to carry the post 3 to a position in 5. which it is drawn out of engagement in a notch or slot in the edge of a bundle of leaves placed between the clamping bars.

The levers 4 and 4a instead of being angular may be straight, or sliders may be employed in place of the pivoted members.

To effect the drawing apart of these clamping bars, so as to allow leaves to be withdrawn from or insertedbetween them, according to this invention as shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8, a tray or base board I9 is formed with a recess to provide a slideway for guide blocks 20extending downwardly from platforms 2] on which the clamipng bars l can rest with ins 22 extending upwardly from the platforms in contact with the inner The guide blocks 28 are provided with bars 23 having rack teeth formed thereon in engagement with a pinion carried on a pin 25 rotatable by means of a handle 26 whereby the platform 2| can be moved simultaneously in opposite directions to vary the distance between them and through the pins 22 to cause the clamping bars I to be moved apart againstthe action of the springs Id. An arrangement of linkwork 230 (Figure may be provided in place of the rack andpinion mechaof these levers to cause the leaf holding posts to release the leaves simultaneously with the opening apart of the clamping bars. It is obvious that the effective faces of the'cam bars may be arranged to face. upwardly or laterally withre- 5; spect to the edges of the: apertures I6, according to the arrangement of the levers 4 or 4a. The cam bars by entering the apertures I6 and moving over the inner faces of walls of the clamping I bars so as to take up a position above these walls will prevent the clamping bars from being lifted or moved laterally onthe said platforms. If necessary means such as pins on. the platforms engaging-in holes in the clamping bars maybe provided to prevent. the clamping bars-'fromber ing lifted from or moved laterally on thesaid" platforms by the cam bars thrusting against the levers 4, 4a, I3, I3a.

In an alternative arrangement, shown in Figure 9, the employment of cam bars or ramps 21 is avoided and pins 28 are provided on the platforms to enter holes 29 in the clamping bars I when the book is placed on the platform, the weight of the book being then effective for unlatc-hing and moving the levers 42), I31), these pins 28 also acting in place of the pins 22 to ensure movement of the clamping bars by the platforms 2I' as the latter are moved by the handle 26, aswell as toprevent displacement of the clamping bars on the said platforms.

We claim:

1. A device for releasing the leaves of a loose leafbook held between clamping bars drawn together by springs and provided with leaf holding posts extending from carrier blocks movably mounted in the bars, comprising a tray, platforms movable on the tray and thrust exerting implements fixed to the tray to enter the clamping bars through apertures therein to effect movement of the said carrier blocks by direct contact therewith.

21 A device for releasing the leaves of a loose leaf book held between clamping bars drawn together by springs and provided with leaf holding posts extending from carrier blocks which are movable to effect movement of the posts substantially longitudinally in the said clamping bars, comprising a tray, platforms movable on the tray and thrust exerting implements arranged to enter apertures in the clamping bars to engage the said carrier blocks on movement of the platforms relatively to the tray.

3. A device for releasing the leaves of a loose leaf book held between clamping bars drawn together'by springs and provided with leaf holding posts secured to movable carrier blocks so as to be movable substantially longitudinally in the said clamping bars, and latches engaging the said carrier blocks, comprising a tray, platforms provided with means for engaging the clamping bars and movable on the tray to effect movement of the clamping bars and thrust exerting implements arranged to enter apertures in the clamping bars to move the said latches and carrier blocks'in succession.

4. A device for releasing the leaves of a loose leaf book held between clamping bars drawn together by springs and provided with leaf holding posts secured to movable carrier blocks so as to be movable in the said clamping bars, comprising a tray, platforms-movable on'the tray, rack and pinioninechanism for eifecting relative movement" of the platforms, and thrust exerting implements arranged to enter apertures in the clamping bars to engage the said carrier. blocks on movement of the platforms relatively to the tray.

5. A' devicefor releasing the leaves of a loose leaf book held between clamping bars drawn together by springs, and provided with leaf holding posts secured to movable carrier blocks so as to be movable in the said clamping bars, comprising a tray, platforms movable on-the tray, mechanism for; effecting relative movement of the platforms including an operating handle, and thrust exerting implements arranged to enter apertures in the clamping barstoengage the said carrier blocks on movement of the platforms relatively to the tray.

HENRY THOMAS BIGG. SAMUEL HENRY SUNDERLAND; 

